Read This: Books under the Radar is a weekly post written by a guest author – often a friend of mine, someone I’ve met on my writerly travels, or an author I admire who recommends three books they think deserve more recognition. If you’re interested in buying any of the books, please click on the covers and give these hidden gems some love.

Read This: Vanessa Harbour

Vanessa is one of those lovely writers I seem to have known forever, often popping up at my local independent book shop, at other authors’ launches and events. She is incredibly supportive and encouraging of other authors and she must make the most wonderful mentor. Here’s what she has to say about herself:

Vanessa Harbour is a disabled author and Programme Leader of the BA in Creative Writing at the University of Winchester. She has also mentored aspiring writers for many years, acting as editor and workshop leader. History fascinates her. Her novels Flight and Safe combine her passion for horses and the Second World War. She loves to use words to paint pictures through storytelling. Follow Vanessa on Instagram.

All three of the books I’ve chose have something in common. They’re driven by characters and family whether the one you’re born into or the one you create around you.

Here are Vanessa’s recommendations:

Read This is a weekly post written by a guest author – often a friend of mine, or someone I’ve met on my writerly travels, who recommends three books they think deserve more recognition. If you’re interested in buying any of the books, please click on the covers and give these hidden gems some love.

Read This: Gina Chung

Gina and I met when we were put together because we’d both written books that featured octopuses – hers being the wonderful Sea Change, about a woman called Ro whose only real friend is a Pacific Octopus called Delores. She interviewed me about mine – The Memory of Animals at McNally Jackson, a gorgeous bookshop in New York. Here’s what she has to say about herself:

Gina Chung is a Korean American writer from New Jersey currently living in New York City. She is the author of the novel Sea Change, which was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, a 2023 B&N Discover Pick, an APALA Adult Fiction Honor Book, and a New York Times Most Anticipated Book, and the short story collection Green Frog, which was a Good Morning America Book Buzz Pick. A recipient of the Pushcart Prize, she is a 2021-2022 Center for Fiction/Susan Kamil Emerging Writer Fellow and holds an MFA in fiction from The New School.

Here are Gina’s recommendations:

Read This is a weekly post written by a guest author – often a friend of mine, someone I’ve met on my writerly travels, or an author I admire who recommends three books* they think deserve more recognition. If you’re interested in buying any of the books, please click on the covers and give these hidden gems some love.

Read This: Lindsay Hunter

Lindsay and I met in 2023 when she interviewed me about my novel, The Memory of Animals as part of the US book tour for the book, at the wonderful bookshop in Chicago, Exile in Bookville. She was (is) so lovely and enthusiastic and funny, that we’ve stayed in touch. She gave me a proof of her latest novel, Hot Springs Drive, and unsurprisingly I loved this too, wrote her a quote for the cover and posted a mini review of it on Instagram. I highly recommend it. Here’s what she has to say about herself:

(*Why am I not surprised that Lindsay cheated and gave me four recommendations?)

I’m Lindsay Hunter, author of five books. My latest novel, Hot Springs Drive, was named one of the best thrillers of 2023 by the Washington Post. I host I’m a Writer But, a podcast about writers and their lives. I live in Chicago with my family. 

I’m excited to recommend the following books to you! These are titles that have stayed with me ever since I had the pleasure of reading them. They inspire me in my own writing, and show me that there are no limits, only those I’ve imposed on myself. Also, and this is important: they are a blast to read.

Here are Lindsay’s recommendations: